Three-peat. Dynasty. Legends. Whatever you call it, Shelli Sinclair’s family are medallion masters.
In the six years since the Farm City Days medallion hunt began, they’ve found the coveted artifact three different times: 2014, 2017 and 2020.
The core search team consists of multiple family members and their parents, where all of the children were born in Garnett and later moved to Iola.
Sinclair is a housekeeper at Allen County Regional Hospital/St. Luke’s, and has a 9-year-old daughter, Chloe, who also likes to get in on the action.
The family’s passion for games began early. When they were young they “stuck to themselves” and had to find ways to “stay busy at home.”
“We used to do scavenger hunts for each other,” said Sinclair, hiding items and developing various clues.
“It’s something we’ve all loved forever. … Things that bend your mind, puzzles … love of trivia.”
THIS year’s medallion was hidden in LaHarpe, with the only clue being a reference to “your heart.”
Once they saw the clue, the family sprang into action, and quickly determined the reference.
“At 10 a.m., we’re all like, who can go on their lunchtime?” Sinclair excitedly recalled.
Then she and her sister Sheri ran to LaHarpe on their lunch break, first checking the LaHarpe city sign which bears a heart.
No such luck.
They next went to the city park, and found the plastic lollipop “medallion” strapped to a bench in a dugout with plastic wrap.
Having found the medallion in only a couple hours, Sinclair was at first incredulous, and couldn’t believe they’d already been successful.
“I was a little taken aback,” she said.
